Transport HOD – Report on Jonkers must be presented to legislature

The Democratic Alliance (DA) will write to the Chairperson of the newly established Portfolio Committee on the Premier in the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature (NCPL), Kagisho Molusi, requesting that the report being compiled on the Head of the Transport, Safety & Liaison department, Stephen Jonkers, be presented to the portfolio committee.

This comes after media reports indicated that the Head of the Premier’s Office, Justice Bhekebeke, is compiling a report on Jonkers, who is currently facing serious charges before the Kimberley Magistrates Court of corruption, fraud and contravening the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA).

Jonkers is accused of allegedly receiving a kickback of R260 000 from the owner of a bus company to which he awarded a 5-year contract worth R10-million. He also allegedly awarded three bus companies contracts worth in excess of R25-million without going out to tender, for the provision of subsidised transport services in the Springbok and Barkley West areas.

The DA has already publically called for the Transport, Safety & Liaison MEC, Mac Jack, to take urgent precautionary action and to suspend his departments HOD.

The NCPL has a Constitutional mandate to ensure that the people of the Northern Cape are protected, and that the provincial government ensures good governance principles are adhered to without delay, fear or prejudice.

The DA remains of the firm view that it is unacceptable that those facing charges before the courts remain in the provincial government either as MEC’s or senior officials. It is equally unacceptable that the ANC and it alliance partner Cosatu would even seek to defend this untenable situation in any way. Urgent action leadership is needed to restore the public’s faith in the provincial government, and Premier Sylivia Lucas needs to be front-and-centre in this regard.